I have received dozens of e-mails asking me to comment on this week's elections and I will...just not this week. I need a little more time to gag my "gloat" reflex because I want whatever I write to add to the conversations and not distract from them and because, for the first time since George W. Bush took occupancy of the White House, we can actually have those conversations and have them taken seriously. Besides, the winners won't be assuming their positions until January; I should be allowed a week or two off before I start telling them what they're doing wrong.

On the home front, I see the light at the end of the Dreaded Deadline Doom tunnel. Assuming it's not another train barreling at me, I should be back to full-length TOTs come Monday.

For today, here's another selection of our ever-popular COMICS IN THE COMICS panels and strips.

Guy and Brad Gilchrist gave a shout out to another feature in their NANCY from February 12:

Look who's reading comic books in the February 15 installment of HI AND LOIS by Brian Walker, Greg Walker and Chance Browne:

Then again, given the spelling of comics as "comix" in this strip, maybe Hi's rediscovering his boyhood stash of FABULOUS FURRY FREAK BROTHERS comix.

Marmaduke gets a shout-out in Scott Stantis' PRICKLY CITY for February 17:

Stantis is a frequent frustration for me. He draws well and he sometimes makes excellent points. However, more often than not, he goes for the kind of knee-jerk right-wing "humor" that makes him as irrelevant as Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh.

Batman and Robin are frequent visitors to Dan Piraro's great BIZARRO panel. Here's one from February 23:

My dear friend Tom Batiuk's love of comic books is channeled in his CRANKSHAFT strip from February 23:

Drawn by Chuck Ayers, CRANKSHAFT featured a nod to one of the classic Dick Tracy storylines on February 26:

ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.

ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.

TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?

THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.

FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?

FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.